Quinoa and Black Bean Salad Recipe – 4 Points

You’ve probably seen lots of recipe lately for quinoa here on LaaLoosh and other food blogs. It’s popular with good reason. It’s very much like rice, it’s a mild and versatile grain that you can do just about anything with.

This simple, healthy Quinoa and Black Bean Lime Salad recipe is just one example.

Quinoa and Black Bean Lime Salad is not just a breeze to throw together, it’s flavorful, satisfying and won’t cost you many Points. It’s a great side dish to just about any meal that you want to add it to. I’ve even used the leftovers on top of a salad the next day for lunch.

I love quinoa. It’s easy to cook and works in and alongside so many dishes, just like rice. But, unlike rice, it’s not just packed with carbs. Quinoa is a great carb choice. It’s something that I’ll often use in place of rice. Quinoa isn’t quite as mild as rice but has a delicious nutty flavor that’s still mild and can be used in just about anything.

One distinct advantage that quinoa has over rice is its nutrient content. Brown rice has about 45 grams of carbohydrate per cup (cooked), with only 3.5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Quinoa, per cup cooked, has only 39 grams of carbohydrates with 5.2 grams of fiber and 8.1 grams of protein. Quinoa is also a far better source of iron, magnesium and several B vitamins including folate and B6.

You can usually find quinoa in three main colors in the US – white, red and black. There is no major difference in flavor or nutrients between the three but using different colors of quinoa adds some color and fun to your meal.

I frequently cook my quinoa in a big batch on the stove, according to the package directions. However, you can also cook quinoa in your rice cooker or Instant Pot. Just combine the liquid and quinoa in your rice cooker and push the rice button.

You can prepare the rest of your meal and when it’s ready, your quinoa will be done. I typically use water when I make my quinoa, but you can add a little more flavor to the quinoa by using fat free chicken broth in place of the water.

Now that we’ve talked a little about quinoa, let’s talk a little about the rest of the salad. Once you’ve got your quinoa cooked, add a can of black beans, cilantro, olive oil, garlic and lime. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. Mix it up, season it to taste and you’re done.

This incredibly flavorful and fresh salad that’s so easy to make is one of the reasons why I make up a big batch of quinoa and keep it in the fridge. All I have to do is pull out the right amount of cooked quinoa, add the rest of the ingredients and I’m ready to go.

This Quinoa and Black Bean Lime Salad is amazing. It’s not only has a great balance of healthy fats, fiber and protein, but it’s so fresh and delicious! It’s easy to make and it’s filling. It really doesn’t get better than this. Even my kids will eat this cold in their lunch boxes.

Plus, it’s low in Points and is a great Weight Watchers side dish recipe to fill you with nutrition and help keep you on track. Enjoy!